favour
to visit my poor mother, Widow Dillon, and tell her how I came to my
end. Give her my love, and say I died in the hope that she would
forgive me for the trouble I had caused her." His words grew fainter as
he spoke.

Captain Norton promised that he would carry out his request; and in a
few minutes after the young soldier breathed his last.

We buried him that night, just outside the fort, not far from where its
former defenders lay. We none of us could tell how soon we might share
his fate. Captain Norton, well aware of the dangers to which we should
be exposed, charged the scouts to keep a vigilant look-out, so as to
avoid being led into an ambush, or surprised in any other way.

Next morning, no messenger having arrived from Fort King, or from any
other direction, we commenced our march.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

DIFFICULTIES OF THE JOURNEY--DISCOVERY OF WILD BEES--IN SIGHT OF FORT
KING--A WARM RECEPTION--THE FLAG OF TRUCE--WITH FRIENDS--AN
EXPLANATION--A SAD STORY--DETAINED BY THE COMMANDANT--THE BLACK
MESSENGER--NEWS FROM OUR FRIEND--JUANITA DISCOVERED--WE SET OFF TO JOIN
ROCHFORD--CAMP--POMPEY MISTRUSTED--A NEGRO ENCAMPMENT--LOST IN THE
FORESTS--A WELCOME CHALLENGE--HOW TO ACT FOR THE BEST--ON THE TRAIL--WE
COME UP WITH THE REDSKINS--A HASTY DEED--FATE OF SPOTTED WOLF--
PARTICULARS OF ROCHFORD'S CAPTURE--FORWARD TO THE RESCUE.

Eager as we were to reach Fort King, we made but slow progress, owing to
the nature of the country. The men grumbled as they found their feet
torn by the short palmetto which grew everywhere over the ground,
frequently inflicting very disagreeable wounds on their almost bare
legs. The sun moreover beat down with intense force on our heads; while
in many places, as we tramped over the sandy tract, we were surrounded
by clouds of dust, which prevented us from seeing to any distance on
either side. Frequently we came to swampy ponds, to avoid which we had
to make a wide circuit; for though they were not deep, it would have
been impossible to have waded through them. As, however, we had scouts
out both ahead and on either flank, we ran but little risk, while
marching through the open country, of being surprised; and whenever we
approached a wood, or mass of the tall saw-grass which fringed the
ponds, the dogs were sent forward to ascertain whether or not an enemy
lay in ambush under their cover. We soon also felt the want of
provisions. The very scanty stock we had brought wit